over $60 billion of aid to victims of hurricane sandy is hanging in the balance this morning. the senate passed an emergency spending package last night, but the house has yet to vote. republicans want a smaller bill. more than a half million homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed in the october storm. >>> former president george h.w. bush is in intensive care this morning, but his spokesman says he's improving. nbc's gabe gutierrez is outside the hospital in houston for us. good morning. >> reporter: enagood morning to you. as you mentioned, the former president is here at methodist in the intensive care unit. he's improving. the family spokesman now says that his exchanges with doctors and nurses include singing. now the 41st president of the united states went to the hospital in early november for bronchitis. he was released after a few days but then returned after thanksgiving after developing a nagging cough. the family hoped to have him back by christmas, but this past sunday doctors put him in the icu. when he came down with a fever. now the family has not relea